The Ride

It had been quite a day for Allison. She couldn't shake the images that replayed in her mind: the first encounter with Jasper, the feel of his firm hands steadying her by the waist, his intense gaze, and how he moved with effortless skill on the lacrosse field. Just thinking about it left her feeling a warmth she couldn't quite define.

After school, her dad had called to say he'd be tied up and suggested she get to know the area a bit by walking home. Deciding that was a good idea, she began the long walk, letting the new sights of Beacon Hills distract her from her thoughts. But as she strolled along the road, a sleek black car pulled up beside her, and the now-familiar deep voice called out as the tinted window rolled down.

"Hey, Allison! No ride home?"

She couldn't help but smile a little at that. Somehow, Jasper seemed to appear in all kinds of unexpected moments, and his presence alone was enough to warm her up. "No, my dad was supposed to pick me up, but he got caught up with something else. He suggested I take a walk and get to know the neighborhood." She glanced at him, adding playfully, "Why? You offering to help out a helpless maiden?"

Jasper smiled, not missing the chance. "Well, hop in. We could cruise around, check out the town, maybe even stop by the lake. Beacon Hills has a lot to show us," he said. "And, after all, I'm just as new here as you are."

Allison's smile grew, lighting up her face, and she opened the door, sliding into the seat next to him. As she settled in, she looked around and commented, "Cool ride."

"Thanks," Jasper replied with a touch of pride. "I'm pretty proud of her. But I didn't take you for a car enthusiast."

"When your childhood's surrounded by cars and guns, you get into it," she said with a knowing smile.

"Guns?" Jasper asked, keeping his tone curious, though he already knew the truth.

Allison simply raised an eyebrow at him. "Why? Are you scared?" She chuckled. "It's just the family business."

Jasper laughed. "Family business, huh?" He smiled, turned the key, and the car rumbled to life, roaring as they pulled onto the road.

The two rode in easy conversation, winding through Beacon Hills and passing by different places around town. They cruised past the quaint downtown with its old brick shops and local businesses, saw a glimpse of the diner with its neon lights starting to flicker on, and drove by the park, where kids and parents were finishing their games as dusk set in.

Trees lined the roads as they continued out of town, their tall silhouettes towering over the road as the car cut through the shadowy paths. Every now and then, a stray deer would peer at them from the woods, and the faint glint of the lake shimmered nearby, reflecting the last bits of light.

After a few hours of chatting and getting to know each other, they'd circled back near the lake, and the sky had turned dark. Without warning, rain began to pour down, pelting the car and drenching the forest around them. The windshield wipers struggled to keep up as Jasper slowed down, turning on the headlights.

Jasper glanced at Allison with a smile. "You know, driving in this rain isn't the best idea," he said, raising his voice a little over the sound of the storm. "And my place just happens to be right around the corner. What do you say we wait there until the rain stops?"

Allison raised a brow, a playful glint in her eye, but Jasper quickly added, "I promise, I'll be a gentleman. Well... as long as you are."

She laughed, clearly amused, and after a moment of thought, nodded. "Alright, let's do that."

Jasper could see the faint blush on her cheeks as she tried to hide it, and as they drove toward his place, the two shared a quiet look that seemed to say everything they weren't quite ready to say out loud.